Business License Instructions
Town of Ashland, Virginia
All businesses located within the Town of Ashland are required to have a town business license. The
license is calculated upon gross receipts (or gross purchases for a wholesale merchant). Any business
with gross receipts of less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) shall be required to file an application,
but will be exempt from the license fee.
Gross receipts must be substantiated by:
• a copy of the Federal Income Tax Return where gross receipts are reported or
• a certified statement from your accountant/CPA reporting gross receipts and the related
fiscal/calendar year. Gross receipts must be reported using the same method of accounting as is
used for federal income tax purposes.
Your application will not be processed and will be returned if the documentation is not included. This
may result in additional penalties and interest fees. If an Application for Automatic Extension of Time has
been filed, please attach a copy of the Extension and estimate your gross receipts. Delinquent business
license fees, personal property, meals, transient occupancy, and/or real estate taxes owed by the business to
the town must be paid in full prior to issuance of a business license. Please include check for total due.
Renewal applications and payment must be received or postmarked on, or before May 1, 20 to avoid late
charges. If an extension has been filed on the tax return please estimate the gross receipts and have your
accountant mail or fax on letterhead a statement certifying the gross receipts.
Applications for new businesses will be reviewed by the Planning Department to ensure that the business
location is properly zoned prior to license being issued. The Planning Department may be contacted at
804-798-1073 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Contact the Hanover County Circuit Court (804-730-6000) if you will be operating a business under an
assumed or fictitious name. Trade names that include the sole proprietor's last name do not have to be
recorded. Trade names using only an individual's initials or any other fictitious names, which differ from the
actual sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, or corporate name must be recorded with the Clerk's Office. Code
of Virginia 59.1-74 requires proof of recordation before a license may be issued.
If the business has closed, please complete the Business Closure Form that is available upon request and also
on the Town of Ashland website on the Finance Department page.
*All the forms for the 20 Business License are available on the Town of Ashland website on the Finance
Department page as fillable forms for your convenience. www.ashlandva.gov
If you have any questions, please contact the Town of Ashland’s Finance Department by email at
finance@ashlandva.gov or by telephone at 804-798-8650.